Pad



1956 A. M. KLlGMAN ET AL 2,771,877

PAD

Filed Jan. 10, 1955 INVENTORS; Mf/FT/I 054 5? 451 55/97 MAY/mm.

PAD

Application January 10, N55, Serial No. 480,697

9 Claims. (Cl. 128-153) This invention relates to a pad designed for use in interdigital spaces for relief from the malady commonly known as athletes foot.

Intertriginous athletes foot (scaling, oozing, cracking, maceration and itching between the toes) has heretofore been considered to be a disease solely due to fungi. Accordingly, it has been treated with powders, salves and liquid medications which have antifungal properties. The results of such treatment have been unreliable; not infrequently the skin is made worse and even though a cure may occur, it has not been proved that this is due to the incorporation of fungus killing agents.

Use of various types of padding between the toes also has been proposed. However, such pads have been in specially molded shapes or have required adhesive tape to secure them in place. The adhesive tape itself may, ;and frequently does, cause irritation and, therefore, largely vitiates the sought-for result.

Objects and advantages of the present invention include a solution to the problem of cure of athletes foot from a new approach designed to produce outstanding and improved results. A particular object and advantage lies in the provision of an interdigital pad which will remain in place between the toes when the sock is drawn on over the foot and will not become disarranged due to natural movements of the toes and foot during walking and will remain in place for a matter of hours or even days if desired.

A further particular object and advantage of the invention is provision of an interdigital pad having minimum bulk and which can be easily and economically manufactured.

It has been found according to the invention that in most cases ringworm fungi do not cause intertriginous athletes foot; rather, mechanical factors such as heat, sweating, friction, accumulation of moisture combine to cause breakdown of the skin, greatly promoting bacterial growth or predisposing to the growth of fungi. Microorganisms, whether bacteria or fungi, are secondary agents in causation; they are enabled to develop in a site made favorable by the wearing of shoes, which in susceptible persons, leads to moisture retention, occlusion of the lateral interspaces with constant friction of the contacting skin surfaces, and finally overgrowth of the damaged area by microorganisms. The lesions containing fungi are indistinguishable from those which do not, from which it may be concluded that intertriginous athletes foot is a syndrome, not a disease, which may be classified as one of the types of intertrigo. Elimination of bacteria and fungi by killing them with chemical agents is not the prime aim of treatment but rather the correction of physical factors which make the skin hospitable for their growth. The paramount aim is to promote dryness and eliminate the rubbing of apposing skin surfaces by opening up the affected interspaces. When these goals are achieved, the lesions, whether or not fungi are present, resolve promptly. According to the invention an interdigital dressing has been made having therapeuti- States Patent 2,771,877 Patented Nov. 27, 1956 Ice cally beneficial, absorbing and desiccating properties which affords a substantially complete cure for athletes foot.

The way in which the invention achieves the foregoing objects may be conveniently understood by reference to the attached drawings in which like reference numbers represent the same part in the various figures.

Figure 1 is a plan view of an interdigital pad according to the present invention, the pad being in the flat condition.

Fig. 2 shows the pad of Fig. 1 in place between the toes.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the pad in position taken on plane 3 3 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 illustrates the form the interdigital pad of the invention may assume while it is being inserted between the toes.

Fig. 6 illustrates a particular form of pad according to the invention in the fiat condition.

Fig. 7 is an edge view of the pad shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 illustrates the interdigital pad of Figs. 6 and 7 in position between the toes.

Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate other embodiments of the inplane 4-4 of vention, that is, pads of modified shapes.

The pads shown in the various figures are made of relatively thin, soft, absorbent sheet material described in detail hereinafter. The pad of Fig. 1 is of generally rotund shape and has a long axis 11 and a perpendicular short axis 12, each passing through the center 15 of the pad 10. Two slits 16 and 17, which pass entirely through the thickness of the pad, are disposed substantially on axis 11. Each slit extends from an opposite edge of the pad, as shown, toward the center 15. However, each of slits 16 and 17 terminates short of said center, thereby forming tabs 20 and 21 on the opposite sides of slit 16, and tabs 25 and 26 on the opposite sides of slit 17. It will be noted that the pad is symmetrical about axis 11, whereby tabs 20 and 21 are of substantially the same size and shape, and the same is true of tabs 25 and 26.

To place the pad 10 between the toes, it is bent back on itself substantially along long axis 11 producing a fold 13, and inserted in the interdigital space as illustrated in Fig. 2. Proximalportions of the-toes are shown at 33 and distal portions at 34. It will be noted that tabs 20 and 21, on the one hand, and 25 and 26, on the other hand, conform to the top and bottom surfaces of the foot, respectively, while extending in lateral directions from the intertriginous surfaces of the toes being protected, thereby covering a substantial part of the proximal portions 33 of contiguous digits including both the dorsal and plantar surfaces 38 and 39, respectively, of the digits. At the same time, the surface 30 of pad 10 is in contact with and separates adjacent interdigital surfaces between adjacent toes. The manner in which surface 30 contacts and separates the adjacent interdigital surfaces is clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

In an alternative modification, the pad may be bentback on itself substantially along short axis 12, producing a fold as shown in Fig. 5.

The pad 32 illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 has a long axis 35 and a short axis 36, both passing through a central point 37 of the generally rotund pad. The pad 32 is symmetrical about axis 36, thereby providing adjacent tabs of substantially the same size and shape. Slits 40 and 41 are similar to slits 16 and 17 of pad 10 but differ therefrom in that they are disposed on the short axis 36 rather than on the long axis 35. This makes tabs 45 and 46 and 47 and 48 substantially shorter than tabs 20, 21, 25 and 26 of pad 10. Pad 32 is shown in place between the interdigital area in Fig. 8. It will be noted a. thattabs 4S, and 46 have less material. and bulk on the top and bottom surfaces of the foot, overlap each other to a minimum degree and therefore have advantages in certain-applications, for example,'.ona ladys foot where minimum bulk-is-desired.

Fig. 9 illustrates another type pad, also having a generally rotund shape; Perpendicularv axes '51 and:52 pass through-the center. 53 ofthe-pad. Slits=55and 561are disposed on, axis 511 (an axis. ofsymmetry) thereby: form-' ing tabs 57 and:58-;-on .-opposite sidesof slit 55-,- and tabs 60.-and.61-. onopposite-sides misfit-.56 The surface 60 of; pad. 50 contactsadjaeent interproximal areas in use just as does the surface of pad 10, although tabs 57 and 58; 60 and :61 are. substantially: shorter than .1 corresponding tabs illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3. Nevertheless, they: conform to. the top and bottomsurfacesof. the: foot while extending away from each other and from the; integral surfaces'thereby tOnPIOVldE the'advantages of the-invention described above.

In Fig; 10 the p ad.:-70 sagairris of substantially rotund shape,,.has axesfll and-72Epassingythrough center 75', and slits 76 and 77 placed on axis 71 thereby providing-labs on; opposite sides of. the slits.-

The advantages of the invent-ion arise fronrthefact that the; dressing; has surfaces in'contact with substantially-the entireintertriginous surfacesxof the. toes. and has tab portions extending inlateraldirectionsthereby coveringa substantialpartof the proximal'portionsof contiguous digits, .includingbothithe dorsal and; plantar surfaces thereof. Theatabspassistirr securingthe portion of. the-padactually, in the :interdigital space; in. position; Furthenthese tabs are so. formedv and-soplaced that there; is: minimtuninterference; of the; sock of stocking therewith ,evemwhen; the stockingiis; being. put on. or; removedfromthefoott Althoughrmedicatedaprowder, such as;antifungal pow-- der, may be; added to thegpad, thlSllSIiIlOt essential. since; accordingto'the teaching ofthe present invention, marked improvementandiusually acomplete cure of the athletes; foot is. obtained; in a: matter; ofdays by using. the pad even without medication.

The pad. ofi the. inventionrmay be :nonwoven fabric: intennittently bonded, for: example, produced I according. to the method; of United States Patent Number 2,0395 12.. Soft" felt or wovemmaterialsmay be utilized. The material inaraltzcases should be water-absorbent on at least one side; that is, the .sideaadjacent. the-:interproximal Eareas. The pad may be. composed of: cotton, wool, rayon or other absorbent materiall If desired,.theinwardcorners of=tabs 21, .22, 25=and=' 26 may be. rounded; The sharp corners of z thetabs of the otherpadsmay b'e'sirnilarly' rounded.

Asuitable:type pad. may be produced by blending ape proximately30%.byaweight of cottoniand 70% by weight of azmixture :consistingiof 25 rayon?and 75 domestic cotton; Thermater'ialtis carded-and. several cardrlayers superposed: to producea compositesheet having a Weight of approximately l000lto'. 1500? grains per square yard. The.- composite sheet may be..:treated with a 0.31% solution of p'olyvinyl alcohol .orsimilar non-irritating binder to a solution pick-up of about 250% based on the'weight of'tlieadryysheetri The materialthen may be dried; in atunnel i drier by directing hot air upon the surfacefof the material. The polyvinyl alcohol serves toimpart abond and cohesion to the' web. However, equivalent methods maybe iutilizedito :bond the. fibers, such as 'in-. corporating vinyl resin fibers uniformly into :the: web and' activating with heat or solvent.

The sheet, after bonding, is cut into the desired shape described above, suitably by dieing out in a press.

Although specific embodiments of the invention have been described above and in the drawings, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that there are many modifications within the spirit. of the invention. Accordingly, it is intended thatsueh' modifications and equivalents be included and covered within the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1; An absorbent'pad adapted to'fit'between'the'to'es, said pad being flat, having a generally rotund'shape; and having an. axis'inithe plane of the pad passing through the center of the pad, two slits passing. entirely through the thickness of saidp'a'd'disposed substantially on said axis, each slit extending from an opposite edge of said pad toward but terminating short of said center, thereby forming a tab on each side of each .slit, said pad in position having saidaxis-passing between'the toes and-one of its surfaces contacting and separating adjacent interdigitalisurfaces, while said tabs' on opposite sides ofthe samelslit conformto the: surface. of the foot and extend away from each other and from said-interdigital surfaces.

2.: An -absorentpad according to claim 1 which issubstantiallyysynnnetrical about saidaxis.

3; A pad=accordingto claim 2 made of soft bonded non-woven fibrousmate-riaL.

4: An absorbent pad adapted to fit betweenthe toes,

said pad being flat, having agenerally-rotund shape, and

having; two-perpendicular. axes of appreciably, different lengtknin the-.plane-ofathe pad passing through the center of:the ;p.ad, the pad being substantially symmetrical about at'leastxone ofisaid-axes, two.slits passingentirely through;

illfirthilCkIlfiSSl of. said=pad. disposed substantially. on. said.- one axis, each slit extending from an opposite, edge ofsaid pad; towardsbut terminating short of: said center,

thereby-forming awtab. on each side'of each slit, said padin-:position;having saidsone. 'axispassing between the toes and: one of; itsz-surfaces contactingand separatingg ad-v jacent interdigitaksurfaces, while said'tabs on opposite sides-oftheesamea slit conformzto the surface of the foot andcextendsaway fronreach-other and from said. interdigitalsurfaces;

5:.Aupad accbrdingto. claim 4-which is symmetrical about both of said axes but has slits on only, one of said axes.

Gak-padzaccording; to claim 5 having said slitsin the longerzof'saidaxesz 7. A pad according to claim 5 having said slits intthe" shorter. ofsaid axes.

8:: Anzinterdigital dressing comprising absorbent sheetmaterial having surfaces: adapted to contact substantially the intertriginous surfaces of thetoes, and-having tab portions extending.- in lateral directions, said :dressing havingztherapeutically beneficial. absorbing and desiccating properties."

9;.A dressing according to claim 8 in which said: sheet material is folded; on-itself, said: told is placed inthe interdigitallcrease:extending. between the digits, and sides -.of

said sheet opposite said. fold of one surface of .said sheet contactrespective opposite intertriginous surfaces-of said-v Loven r Apr. 17, .1923- Ebhertsp. Sept.- 12,1950 

